Page 19 of Riches Beyond Measure (Golden State Treasure #3)

Cord took her hand and hooked it through his elbow, and they strolled in silence for a while.

She realized then that the last time she’d gone on a walk with a man, she’d ended up marrying him.

Annie didn’t say that out loud, yet it all felt so strange to her.

It was late spring, the days growing longer now, and the sun was setting as they followed the trail that led to Dorada Rio. They had no destination in mind but just enjoyed being alone together.

“I want us to spend time getting to know each other, but I can’t think of a word to say or a question to ask.” Cord patted her hand where it rested on his elbow.

She chuckled quietly. “Maybe that means we already know each other.”

“I do know you, Annie. Not all the details, of course, but I know you’re an intelligent, hardworking, honorable woman. I know you’re a fine mother and a talented teacher. All that brought us here are details we can learn with time.”

She squeezed his arm, nodding in agreement.

“Sometime soon,” Cord rushed on, “I’d like to ride with you to where the ground cracked during the earthquake. I want to see what it looks like now. That chuck wagon might not have fallen far into the crack. Maybe we can haul the wagon to level ground and repair it to be used again.”

“Maybe so,” she said. “I’ll never forget the sight of the earth cracking like that and the wagon falling into it.

It reminds me of what may have happened to that ship long ago.

How shocking would it be for a river to suddenly dry up, its water source cut off?

Could the ship have fallen into a crack like the chuck wagon?

I wonder how many of the crew there were besides the five graves we found in the wilderness?

Did they die when the ship disappeared into the cracked earth as the river it floated on was forced underground? ”

“The ship could have run aground when the river was diverted. Five of the crew at least were able to walk away. Probably a sixth as well, as someone had to be there to bury the five. After three hundred years, armor and weapons, gold ... and bones would be all that was left. Maybe Professor Hardy could tell us more about what happened back then. Would an archeologist know about earthquakes, or is that a different kind of professor?”

She smiled up at him. He wasn’t an overly tall man—six feet, maybe a little less. Being a woman of decent height, she only had to look up a bit.

He drew her to a stop, turned, and kissed her.

The kiss drew out. It baffled her honestly.

He’d kissed her in the kitchen, and her heart had lurched and come back to life.

Filled with a sensation unlike anything she’d felt when Todd had kissed her, but something completely new.

She’d never felt like this before. She reveled in the kiss, setting aside so much old grief to realize she could feel again.

She pulled back and met his blue eyes. No words passed between them, and yet so much passed between their eyes. Her confusion and amazement, his passion and longing.

“Annie, I don’t think we need as much time to get to know each other as I thought.”

A smile spread slowly across her face. “Yes, I believe you’re right.”

“I have such a deep regard for you. It started the first time I saw you.”

She well remembered that moment. He’d stepped into the kitchen of the ranch house. She’d looked him in the eyes and couldn’t look away. He’d seemed just as enthralled as she was.

That was last autumn.

Moments ticked by as they became lost, each in the other’s gaze. She’d forgotten where she was. Who she was. She forgot all her fears because she was much too busy looking at a man who’d awakened a sleeping part of herself.

Now, months later, here they stood. Enthralled by each other.

“Annie, I ... that is, my intentions toward you are completely honorable. I want you to know that. I want us to ... to continue—”

She kissed him this time just to shut him up.

They were out of sight of the house, but they heard the back door open and close. Cord pulled away, drew her hand back through his elbow, and started walking again.

“Afraid that’s one of my brothers?”

“I’d like to have your brothers’ permission to court you, Annie.”

“They both like you, Cord.”

“They do. But the way to earn their blessing is to ask you to marry me.”

“I-I...”

“Don’t say no, please. If you can’t say yes right now, then say you’ll think about it, that you need more time. But don’t say no.”

Annie was silent again as they walked on because indeed she’d opened her mouth to decline his offer, at least at this moment in time.

But then he’d cut in, pleading with her not to refuse him.

Still, she could imagine a time in the future when she’d be ready to say yes. She fumbled for the right words.

“I won’t say no then, Cord. I won’t say I’ll think about it either because I’m already quite sure that the time is coming when I will say yes.”

He grinned as he turned to face her, his blue eyes shining. “That is very much like saying yes.”

Annie went on, “There are lots of things to talk over and decide before the time comes to marry. Where would we live? Are you prepared to accept Caroline in your life and love her as you would your own child? What about the farm or ranch you want to buy? What about—?”

He pressed two fingers against her lips.

“Sure, I’d like to have my own place someday, but for now I’m happy working at the Two Harts as a cowpoke—if that’s what you want, Annie.

And the farm or ranch I want to buy is something we can plan together.

As for Caroline, that little girl is precious and sweet and beautiful, and I’ll gladly promise to love her as I would my own child. Do you have any other worries?”

Facing him, she smiled. “Give me time. I’m sure I’ll come up with a few more.”

He leaned down; she reached up. Their kiss was almost a promise, almost a vow. Annie felt her heart turn to him as old pain became old but sweet memories, those that included her late husband and her life with him.

She found she was able to set the sadness aside. She was ready to step out of a life of routine and work, of teaching and caring for orphans. She’d enjoyed that work, but now she yearned for something different.